2022 National Presidents Cup: Day 3 Recap
Group play concluded on Saturday at US Youth Soccer’s 14th annual National Presidents Cup at Bryan Park in Greensboro, N.C.
15U Girls: DASC 07G Legends 1 (SD) 3 – Thorns North FC 07G Red (ID-WC) 2
DASC and Thorns North FC both had quick goals in this back-and-forth affair. Regina Stoeser scored for the South Dakota side in the second minute, and Marisol Stosich responded seven minutes later to level the game.
Thorns North’s Kennedy Hartzell gave her side the lead 20 minutes later off a free kick from 35 yards out, which took a difficult bounce right in front of the keeper and went in untouched. It was soon a level match again, as DASC’s Joely Sterud finished a cross from the left side of the field, and the teams went into the half tied.
The South Dakota side had multiple chances early in the second half to break the deadlock but couldn’t convert, with Ella Top unable to convert on a breakaway. The knot was untied in the 58th minute, when Nyah Aware sent in an inviting cross that Camren McGuire slotted into the back of the net to take the lead.
DASC’s Brynn Skogen tried to add an insurance goal but couldn’t find the finishing touch — which saw the game end in a nervy affair. Nora Weaver ultimately preserved the win for her side, stifling multiple chances by the opposition, and will move on to the finals tomorrow.
18U Girls: BRSC 03/04 G Red (LA) 0 – Iron Valley United Thorns ’04 (PA-E) 2
Iron Valley, needing a win to advance to the finals, imposed its will early in this match with two quick goals. Lillian Young and Abrielle Miller both converted chances, with goals coming in the 3rd and 16th minutes, respectively.
The Eastern Pennsylvania side kept up the pressure all half and had multiple chances to add to the lead, but BRSC’s defense stood strong and kept the deficit at two.
Iron Valley continued to create chances and get through on goal in the second half, with Young and Madison Julian the closest to finishing opportunities, but BRSC’s Rylie Kuyper led her side and held the opposition scoreless after the intermission.
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16U Boys: Chicago KICS FC 2006 CITY MWC (IL) 1 – Tuzos Garfio 06 (AZ) 0
Chicago KICS and Tuzos Garfio entered the match with the Arizona side needing a win to advance to the finals. They traded chances early in this game, with KICS coming closest to going ahead in the early moments. Kevin Lara Guillen put in an inviting cross that Erik Sanchez connected with, but his header hit the post and went out of play. Leonardo Diaz also had a good opportunity, taking a free kick from 25 yards out that needed a diving save by Tuzos Garfio’s Eric Renteria Duran to keep the game scoreless.
The Illinois side finally broke through in the 37th minute as Omar Gonzalez finished a solo goal to enter the break ahead.
Tuzos Garfio decided on a different approach in the second half, attempting more shots from outside of the box, as KICS’ defense held its ground inside of it. It ultimately led to them being caught on a counterattack, but the last defender, Luis Hernandez Parra, made a last-second slide tackle to keep the game in reach.
The Arizona side ran out of time to grab an equalizer, coming close a few times, which saw KICS move on to the finals tomorrow.
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19U Girls: Dynamo STX. Girls 2003 (STX) 1 – Centre Union 03/04/05G (PA-W) 4
Dynamo caught the Pennsylvania West side sleeping early, as Ayloni Garcia started things off with a goal in the 2nd minute. It was a wake-up call that Centre Union needed, coming into the match hopeful of advancing, and they responded quickly. Trinity Prestash answered three minutes later to make it a new game.
Centre Union used that goal as a jolt of energy and was a different team for the rest of the half. Prestash added a second in the 23rd minute from a Rachel Sickeri assist, and then Sickeri recorded one of her own in the 34th to go into the break up 3-1.
The South Texas side settled in after the break and was able to create some chances, but the Centre Union added a fourth in the 50th minute, Sickeri’s second, that wrapped this match up. Prestash and Sickeri were a difficult duo for their opponents all week but found themselves needing one more score to advance on goal differential in the dying minutes and were unable to get one.
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14U Boys: Columbus Express 2008B Orange (IN) 1 – AVFC Boys 2009 (CA-S) 3
AVFC entered the group’s final match needing a win to advance. It took both teams time to settle in, with chances created but nothing finding the back of the net.
George Diaz lifted the deadlock for the Cal South side off a rocket from 30 yards out in the 24th minute. The Golden State side almost doubled the lead after Raphael Placencia put Diaz through on goal a few minutes later. Ryder Meek, Columbus Express’ keeper, did his part in spoiling the chance and getting his side into the break with a chance.
The Indiana side found more space to attack in the second half and almost leveled the game a few times. Daniel Peraza added a much-needed insurance goal for AVFC in the 63rd minute, which proved vital immediately, as Julian Jackson finished a solo goal for Columbus Express’ first just seven minutes later.
Joseph Rodriguez helped put the game on ice for the Cal South side, drawing a penalty kick in the 73rd minute. Lucas Gonzalez stepped up for his side and converted, solidifying the win and sending AVFC to the finals.
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17U Girls: Charlotte Independence SC South Mat Blue G 2005 (NC) 5 – Victory SC 2005 Girls (PA-W) 1
Charlotte Independence and Victory both entered needing a win to earn a spot in the finals. The Pennsylvania West side had some early chances, trying to play through Tessa Charpentier and Adlie Abraham, but couldn’t convert.
The North Carolina side had chances of their own and ultimately struck first, a Chama Kabwe strike in the 37th minute that gave them the lead heading into the half.
Victory leveled the match as Samantha Sharrer opened the scoring for her side in the 51st minute, but it was all Charlotte Independence from that point on.
Anna Jackson answered immediately for the North Carolina side, pouncing on a shot that Victory’s keeper couldn’t handle, restoring the lead just six minutes later. Kabwe added her second in the 60th minute, and Charlotte Bell scored her first of the game three minutes later off a goal kick miscue to break this one open.
Charlotte Independence advanced to the finals in style, adding one more, an Anna Canty goal in the 73rd minute that came from a well-placed Lillian Jobe cross.
